Salvia plant named ‘Roman Red’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘Roman Red’, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Salvia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Roman Red’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant botanically known as Salvia hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Roman Red’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, the Netherlands during August 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Salvia cultivars having large flowers with attraction coloration, dark green-colored foliage, and a vigorous, highly branched, upright growth habit.

The new Salvia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Vista Rose ‘PAS425912’, not patented, characterized by its rose-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, columnar-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is a Salvia darcyi (Galeana Red Sage) selection, not coded, not patented, characterized by its bright coral-red colored flowers, light green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright, clump-forming growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2015 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2015 in Hem, the Netherlands and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Roman Red’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Medium red-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having medium red-colored flowers and a more vigorous growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored leaves, and a shorter, more branched growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Salvia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the male parent Black & Bloom, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,183. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Black & Bloom’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have red-colored flowers unlike         plants of ‘Black & Bloom’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of ‘Black         & Bloom’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored bracts than         plants of ‘Black & Bloom’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Roman Red’. The plants were approximately 3.5 months old and grown in 6-inch pots for approximately 8 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch 3 weeks after sticking.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Roman Red’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Roman Red’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 4-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch 3 weeks after sticking. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrid ‘Roman Red’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Vista Rose ‘PAS425912’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—A Salvia darcyi (Galeana Red Sage) selection,             not coded, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fibrous, brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright             growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 48.0 cm. Width: Approximately 75.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 2             main basal branches and approximately 16 lateral branches.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 26.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color             of young and mature stems: 146A to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form:             Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular angle to stem. Shape:             Ovate to deltoid. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate to slightly oblique. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of mature             leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Rugose, sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface:             Rugose, densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137A with venation of 146B. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: Closest to NN137D with venation of 146C.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A with 139A             and venation of 147B. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: Closest to NN137D with venation of 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color:             146A with a moderate overlay of N186C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Roman Red’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 4 to 5 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Spikes in verticillaster             arrangement, florets in clusters of three, not persistent.             Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 8.             Fragrance: Faint, sweet. Length or height of inflorescence:             Approximately 23.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately             9.5 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 10.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: Calyx of 185A and             187A, petals of 53A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, lower lip having three lobes,             base fused. Width: Approximately 0.7 cm. Length:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.6 cm.         -   Upper lip.—Shape: Hooded. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.             Length from throat: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of             inner surface when first and fully open: N45B. Color of             outer surface when first and fully open: N45A.         -   Lower lip.—Shape of central lobes: Oblong. Margin: Entire.             Apex of central lobe: Emarginate. Apex of lateral lobes:             Rounded. Length from throat of central lobe: Approximately             0.9 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length             from throat of lateral lobes: Approximately 0.7 cm. Width of             lateral lobes: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             N45B. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             N45C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter at             opening: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of inner surface when first and fully open:             NN155D with an overlay of N45B, base of NN155D. Color of             outer surface when first and fully open: N45B to N45C with             base of NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Fused into two lobes. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Upper lobe acute, lower lobe notched. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of lobes: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Moderately pubescent.             Color of inner surface: 146D with an overlay of 184B. Color             of outer surface: 184A with tips of 187B.         -   Bracts.—Quantity: One bract located at the base of floret             cluster. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture             of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface:             Moderately pubescent. Color of inner surface: 145C with an             overlay of N187D. Color of outer surface: N187D.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute             angle. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146D with a heavy             overlay of 184A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per             flower, dorsifixed, strongly curved. Stamen length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Filament length: Approximately 1.7 cm.             Filament color: NN155D with an overlay of 63A that darkens             on lower half. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 53A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity:             1 per flower, slightly curved. Pistil length: Approximately             5.0 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length:             4.0 mm. Stigma color: 61A. Style length: Approximately             4.3 cm. Style color: NN155D with an overlay of 61A that             fades toward ovary. Style texture: One longitudinal line of             hairs colored 61A. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary             color: 18D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Salvia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘Roman Red’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 